The calendar now says it’s spring, and the temperature–and as a result the farm–is starting to agree.
What’s spring looking like for you?
Tag Archives: outside
Help plan the vegetable garden
I’m starting to think about my vegetable garden.
You may recall that this garden does not exist yet. Even moreso right now since everything is still buried in snow.
However, that’s not stopping me from thinking about layouts and plants and dimensions and fencing and fertilizer and trellises and… and… and…
The garden is my one and only outdoor project for this year.
Would you help me with planning, please?
The objective is to turn the patch of burr bushes behind this little picket fence…
Into a bucolic oasis like this.
Source: Country Living
No sweat, right?
Here’s what I’ve sorted out so far.
I’m going to dismantle what Matt calls the “goat ring” (I think it’s a longeing ring for horses) to get my fencing.
Under this mound of snow, I have a stash of wood posts that I can use either for fencing or for edging the garden beds.
I’ve collected a few rolls of chain link that will be helpful to keep small hungry critters from munching on my produce.
Aaaaaand that’s about all I have so far.
Next week is spring break. I’m taking a vacation from the day job, which means a little more time at home to work on projects. One project is starting to map out the garden.
I don’t think I can do much more than that until the snow melts.
I’m going to be taking a break from the blog for the week too. While I’m away, I’d really appreciate it if you could offer your suggestions for the garden.
What should I plant? How should I organize the garden? What dimensions are best for the individual beds? How big should the garden be overall? What’s the best way to get rid of the burr bushes and prepare the soil? Do you have a garden yourself? What grows best for you? Are there any garden blogs I should be reading? Thanks in advance for your help.
Winter sunrise
It’s been one month since the shortest day of the year. Each day, there’s a little more and a little more sunlight. I don’t love winter’s long nights, but there’s something special about seeing the sunrise every morning.
Snapshot
The pond on a wintery November afternoon.
Fall iris
So apparently it’s not fall after all.
One of our irises has popped out in bloom.
Should I be concerned? I know the climate’s changing, but this seems a little off. This iris bloomed already this year back in the spring. Isn’t that normal? Aren’t irises usually spring flowers?
At the base of the iris, the blooming sedum and fallen leaves give away what season it really is.
Tell me. How weird is this? Have you ever had a flower bloom out of season?
Fields of beans
It’s been nearly three months since our fields were planted with soybeans. Well past time for an update, Baxter informed me.
Hello y’all. Baxter here. I went on a detailed inspection of our fields this weekend, and I’m here to share my report on the state of our soybeans. I can’t believe Julia’s let it go this long without showin’ y’all what’s been going on. I’ve decided to take care of this myself. A farm dog’s responsibilities never end.
First off, our soybeans are tall. As tall as me. Some spots are shorter, but most are growin’ pretty well.
Second off, our soybeans are not real sniffy. They smell mostly like green.
Third off, our soybeans are fuzzy. Not furry like a dog. Just fuzzy.
Yup. We’ve got actual beans, y’all.
I haven’t tasted them yet. I’m waitin’ ’til they get a bit riper for that test. I’ll keep y’all informed.
Baxter’s crop report is turning into an annual occasion. Click here to read his last one from a year ago.
July clouds
At the beginning of July Matt proclaimed, “July has the best clouds.”
Throughout the month, I was treated to sightings of muscle men flexing, food stuffs, animals, body parts and other cloud sculptures that he spotted.
Then, August 1, driving home, Matt said, “See, August’s clouds just aren’t as interesting.” True enough, the sky was hazy, there were no fluffy white beings to be seen.
My own most interesting clouds came near the end of July early one morning, although I’m not sure my picture does it justice.
Sometimes there’s perks to being up at dawn.
Do you look for pictures in the clouds? What sights do you usually see? Do you have a favourite cloud month?
Snapshot
Now for the pot of gold
A late afternoon downpour followed by a sun shower was followed by the biggest rainbow we’ve had at the farm. It spanned from the front field all the way to the back woods. It was so big I couldn’t fit it all in one picture. I had to stick two together to get the full arch.
Matt and I are taking some time off this week to search for the pot of gold. I’ll still be posting, but I may not be responding to comments as quickly. I hope your week is full of sunshine and blue skies.
Just a farmer
I think intuitively I knew farming was a hard job. But since moving to the country, I have a whole different appreciation. Equipment, land, time–farmers respond to a higher calling.
When I see tractor lights circling around our fields at 9:30 on a Sunday night, I understand that this is not a job.
Our local community newsletter printed the following poem last year. It said all of the things I’ve seen from our farmer.
“Just a farmer,” you said
And I laughed ’cause I knew
All the things that farmers
Must be able to do.
They must study the land,
Then watch the sky
And figure just what
Is the right time and why
To sow and to plant
To buy and to sell
To go to the market
With cattle, and well.
You know all the books
That farmers must keep
To pay all those taxes
And be able to sleep.
And you know the fixin’
That farmers must do
When machines like mad monsters
Blow a gasket or two.
I guess when God needed
Folks to care for His earth,
He chose “just farmers”
Cause he knew their true worth.
By Helen C. Coon
Home on 129 Acres 